Appliance for paint cans or the like

ABSTRACT

An appliance attachable to a paint can or the like and capable of being designed for hanging a can of paint from a hook or the like, or for removably supporting a brush above the can opening. The appliance is adjustable to accommodate it to cans of different sizes.

' o Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,819,140 Stewart June 25, 1974 [54] APPLIANCE FOR PAINT CANS OR THE 2,487,516 11/1949 Braswell 248/110 LIKE 3,163,389 12/1964 Thornburgh 248/211 3,312,441 4/1967 Molenda 248/210 Inventor: Arthur S ew rt, 4487 3,414,311 12/1968 Trimboli 248/313 x Hillsborough Dr., Castro Valley, 3,462,109 8/1969 Forbes 248/113 Cahf 94546 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Flledi 5, 1972 733,181 6/1955 Great Britain 248/211 NO: 237,952 ll/l ll Germany 248/313 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz [52] US. Cl. 248/110, 248/313 [51] Int. Cl B44d 3/12 58 Field of Search 248/110, 112, 113, 210, [57] ABSTRACT 2 3 21 1 313 3 3 An appllance attachable to a pamt can or the 11ke and capable of being designed for hanging a can of paint 5 References Cited from a hook or the like, or for removably supporting a UNITED STATES PATENTS brush above the can opening. The appliance is adjustable to accommodate it to cans of different sizes. 1,854,069 4/1932 Rowe 248/210 2,315,269 3/1943 Morgillo 248/110 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures APPLIANCE FOR PAINT CANS OR THE LIKE My invention relates to painting equipment and more particularly to an appliance for use in association with a paint can or the like.

Among the objects of my invention are;

1. To provide a novel and improved appliance for attachment to a paint can or the like, which will ease the problems of a painter in the handling of paint on the job;

2. To provide a novel and improved appliance for the above purpose, and which is adjustable to cans of different sizes;

3. To provide a novel and improved appliance of the foregoing character, which can be employed in suspending an open can of paint from a pin or hook; and

4. To provide a novel and improved appliance of the foregoing type which can removably support a paint brush above the open end of a can of paint.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is a phantom view of a paint can in section with two embodiments of the invention applied thereto, one embodiment for use in suspending a can of paint from an appropriate support such as a pin or hook, while the other embodiment illustrates the invention as designed for removably supporting a paint brush above the open end of the can.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention as depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section through a clamp involved in the embodiments of the invention depicted in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of a detail involved in the embodiments of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a view in section through the brush support involved in the one embodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings for details of the invention in its preferred form, the same is for use in conjunction with a paint can 1 or the like and takes advantage of the standard features of construction involved in such can.

In such can, a vertical upper rim 3 extends above an inside circular trough 5 which is adapted to receive a cover.

At its lower end, such can usually terminates in a short depending rim 7.

The appliance of the present invention involves a rod 1 1 including a straight section 13 and a continuing section 15 preferably at an angle thereto, the straight section being of a length greater than the range of can sizes for which the appliance is adapted.

At the free end of the straight section, is affixed a small rectangular plate 17 withturned up semi-circular segments 19, 21 and 23 along three edges thereof, to provide a lip offered by the segment 19 for engagement with the depending rim 7, while the segments 21 and 23 preclude rotation of the rod while the lip is so engaged.

Slidably mounted on the straight section of the rod is a clamp assembly 29 adapted when adjusted as to height, to overhang the raised upper edge 3 of the can, said clamp including means forlocking the same to the rod in its adjusted position thereon.

Specifically, the clamp involves a body 31 having a passage 33 therethrough for slidable installation of the clamp on the straight section of the rod. At one end of the body section is a disc 35 formed, preferably, by grooving the body, the spacing between the disc and the body proper being sufficient to receive the upper edge of a can.

Normal to the rod passage, through the body is a threaded opening 37 of sufficient length to intersect the rod passage 33, said threaded passage being adapted to receive a set screw 39 to engage and lock the clamp to the rod at any adjusted position thereon.

The structure of the appliance as thus far described, is basic to the two modifications illustrated, and enables secure attachment of the appliance to a can. When so attached, sufficient space should exist between the can 1 and the straight rod g section 13 to receive the bail 43 of a can if the can is provided with such bail.

In one embodiment of the invention, the angular section 15 of the rod terminates at its free end in a loop or disc 45 provided with an opening therethrough, the angular section pointing in the direction of the lip whereby, when the appliance is attached to a can in the manner previously indicated, the loop or disc 45 will terminate above the opening in the can, and preferably in the region of the longitudinal axis of the can.

When installed on a can, the appliance will then enable the can to be suspended from a pin or hook or equivalent and with a minimum of tilting of the can; and with the bail in the down position as illustrated, a painter will have substantially free access to the paint in the can.

The second embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, provides means for removably and adjustably supporting of a paint brush 49 with its bristles above the open end of the can whereby drippings if any, will fall directly into the can. Such brush support is slidably mountable on the angular section of the rod and is adjustable angularly to assure support of the brush at a desired non-slip angle.

As depicted in detail in FIG. 5, the brush support involves a cylindrical body 51 terminating at one end in a stop rim 53 and having a transverse passage 55 through the body for slidably mounting the same on the angular portion 15 of the rod. A C-shape brush holder component 57 is slidably installed over the body portion for engagement with the stop rim, with the arms 59, 61 of the C-shape holder extending beyond the stop rim. Abutting the tail end of the C-shape holder is a washer 63.

A threaded passage 65 into the end of the body portion opposite the rim stop, is adapted to receive a set screw 67 for clamping the brush holder at any adjusted position along the angular portion of the rod.

To function asa brush holder, the handle 69 of a brush is inserted into the C-shape component, with the bristles above the open end of the can, whereby upon permitting the brush to rotate downwardly, the handle will engage the lower edge of the C-shape holder and the diagonally opposite edge to assume a fix position. A reverse movement of the brush will permit of its removal from the holder.

Brushes of different handle thicknesses and lengths will require rotational adjustment of the C-shape holder. Being rotatably mounted on the body portion of the holder, the C-shape support is capable of rota tional adjustment. To hold it in any such adjusted position, the rod passage 55 through the body is somehwat oversize, so that the thickness of the base of the C- shape support and associated whasher is slightly greater than the distance from the stop rim 53 to the rod passage, whereby upon tightening of the set screw, the washer will engage the rod thereby clamping the C- shape support in its rotational adjusted position at the same time that the entire brush holder assembly is clamped in its adjusted position along the rod.

From the foregoing description of the invention in its preferred form, it will be apparent that the same fulfills all the onjects thereof, and while the invention has been described in its preferred form and in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An appliance for application to a paint can or the like having a lower rim and an upper edge, comprising a rod including a straight section of a length greater than the range of can sizes for which adapted, a lip carried by said rod adjacent an end thereof for insertion beneath the lower rim of a can, a clamp adjustably mounted on said rod and adapted, when adjusted, to overhang the upper edge of said can, means for locking said clamp in such adjusted position, and adjustable brush holding means supportable on said rod above the plane of the upper end of such can for holding an individual brush at an acute angle to the horizontal and adjustably positioning the bristle end of such brush above and in line with the open end of such can, said rod including a section at an angle to said straight section and in a direction away from such can, and said brush holding means being adjustably mounted on said angle section to provide a vertical and horizontal component of adjustment for accomodating brushes of different lengths, whereby to position the bristle end of such brushes over the opening of such can.

2. An appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized by brush holding means including a body portion having a passage transversely thereof to receive said rod and a threaded passage at one end normal to and intersecting said rod passage, said body portion having at its other end, a C-shape component at an acute angle to the horizontal and with its arms extending beyond said body portion, whereby a brush handle may be inserted between the arms of said C-shape component and released to leave said brush removably, but stably, supported thereby.

3. An appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said brush holding means including a body portion having a passage transversly thereof to receive said rod and a threaded passage at one end normal to and intersecting said rod passage, said body portion having at its other end, a stop rim, a C-shape component rotatably installed on said body portion adjacent said stop rim and with its arms extending beyond said rim, and means for simultaneously locking said body portion to said rod and said C-shape component in a selected rotatable position, whereby a brush handle may be inserted between the arms of said C-shape component and released to leave said brush removably, but stably, supported thereby.

4. An appliance for application to a paint can or the like having a lower rim and an upper edge, comprising a rod including a straight section of a length greater than the range of can sizes for which adapted, a lip carried by said rod adjacent an end thereof for insertion beneath the lower rim of a can, a clamp adjustably mounted on said rod and adapted, when adjusted, to overhang the upper edge of said can, means for locking said clamp in such adjusted position, and adjustable brush holding means supportable on said rod above the plane of the upper end of such can for holding an individual brush at an acute angle to the horizontal and adjustably positioning the bristle end of such brush above and in line with the open end of such can, said adjustable brush holding means being angularly adjustable in a vertical plane. 

1. An appliance for application to a paint can or the like having a lower rim and an upper edge, comprising a rod including a straight section of a length greater than the range of can sizes for which adapted, a lip carried by said rod adjacent an end thereof for insertion beneath the lower rim of a can, a clamp adjustably mounted on said rod and adapted, when adjusted, to overhang the upper edge of said can, means for locking said clamp in such adjusted position, and adjustable brush holding means supportable on said rod above the plane of the upper end of such can for holding an individual brush at an acute angle to the horizontal and adjustably positioning the bristle end of such brush above and in line with the open end of such can, said rod including a section at an angle to said straight section and in a direction away from such can, and said brush holding means being adjustably mounted on said angle section to provide a vertical and horizontal component of adjustment for accomodating brushes of different lengths, whereby to position the bristle end of such brushes over the opening of such can.
 2. An appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized by brush holding means including a body portion having a passage transversely thereof to receive said rod and a threaded passage at one end normal to and intersecting said rod passage, said body portion having at its other end, a C-shape component at an acute angle to the horizontal and with its arms extending beyond said body portion, whereby a brush handle may be inserted between the arms of said C-shape component and released to leave said brush removably, but stably, supported thereby.
 3. An appliance in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said brush holding means including a body portion having a passage transversly thereof to receive said rod and a threaded passage at one end normal to and intersecting said rod passage, said body portion having at its other end, a stop rim, a C-shape component rotatably installed on said body portion adjacent said stop rim and with its arms extending beyond said rim, and means for simultaneously locking said body portion to said rod and said C-shape component in a selected rotatable position, whereby a brush handle may be inserted between the arms of said C-shape component and released to leave said brush removably, but stably, supported thereby.
 4. An appliance for application to a paint can or the like having a lower rim and an upper edge, comprising a rod including a straight section of a length greater than the range of can sizes for which adapted, a lip carried by said rod adjacent an end thereof for insertion beneath the lower rim of a can, a clamp adjustably mounted on said rod and adapted, when adjusted, to overhang the upper edge of said can, means for locking said clamp in such adjusted position, and adjustable brush holding means supportable on said rod above the plane of the upper end of such can for holding an individual brush at an acute angle to the horizontal and adjustably positioning the bristle end of such brush above and in line with the open end of such can, said adjustable brush holding means being angularly adjustable in a vertical plane. 